Fluid flow management

Abstract

A fluid flow method and apparatus are described. The apparatus includes a trough coupled between tanks to provide an air flow down between the tanks.

1. A fluid flow management apparatus, comprising:
 first and second tanks; and 
 a trough coupled between the first and second tanks, the trough comprising:
 a first side panel coupled to the first tank at a top end; 
 a second side panel coupled to the second tank at the top end, the second panel coupled to the first panel at a bottom end of the first and second side panels, the first and second side panels having a depth extending greater than 2 inches down from the top ends of the first and second tanks; and 
 an air guide disposed between the first and second side panels of the trough. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trough further comprises:
 first and second lips coupled to the first and second panels at the bottom end on opposing ends, the first and second side panels and first and second lips to contain a liquid therebetween; and 
 one or more drain ports coupled to one or more respective holes formed at the bottom end of the first and second side panels to drain the liquid. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trough further comprises a bottom panel and wherein the first and second side panels are coupled together with the bottom panel, and wherein the first and second side panels and the bottom panel of the trough form substantially a U shape. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels form substantially a V shape. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a width between the first and second side panels at the top end is greater than 3 inches. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the V shape forms an angle, between the first and second side panels, in a range of 20 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels of the trough are closer to each other at the bottom end than at the top ends. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels of the trough are un-perforated. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air guide is removably situated between the first and second side panels of the trough. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air guide is affixed to the first and second side panels. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air guide comprises first and second angled plates disposed perpendicular to the first and second side panels of the trough. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air guide comprises first and second curved plates disposed perpendicular to the first and second side panels of the trough. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a depth of the curved plates is not greater than three quarters of a depth of the first and second tanks. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the air guide is affixed to the first and second side panels by integrally forming the air guide with the first and second side panels of the trough. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the air guide is affixed to the first and second side panels by one or more attachment members. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the curved plates have a fixed curvature. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the curved plates have a variable curvature. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels having a depth extending greater than 1 foot down from the top ends of first and second tanks. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels having a depth extending approximately 18 inches down from the top ends of first and second tanks. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the width between the first and second side panels at the top end is approximately in a range of 14 to 18 inches. 
     
     
       21. A fluid flow management method, comprising:
 directing air towards first and second tanks; and 
 providing an air path between the first and second tanks to generate laminar airflow between the plurality of tanks while containing liquid drippings from transfer operations between the plurality of tanks, the air path comprising a trough coupled between the first and second tanks, the trough comprising:
 a first side panel coupled to the first tank at a top end; 
 a second side panel coupled to the second tank at the top end, the second panel coupled to the first panel at a bottom end of the first and second side panels, the first and second side panels having a depth extending greater than 2 inches down from the to ends of the first and second tanks, and 
 an air guide disposed between the first and second side panels of the trough. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising reducing air turbulence, using the air path, directly above the plurality of tanks relative to a turbulence generated when no air path is provided between the plurality of tanks. 
     
     
       23. A fluid flow management apparatus, comprising:
 first and second tanks; and 
 a trough coupled between the first and second tanks, the trough comprising:
 a first side panel coupled to the first tank at a top end; 
 a second side panel coupled to the second tank at the top end, the second panel coupled to the first panel at a bottom end of the first and second side panels, the first and second side panels having a depth extending greater than 2 inches down from the top ends of the first and second tanks; 
 first and second lips coupled to the first and second panels at the bottom end on opposing ends, the first and second side panels and first and second lips to contain a liquid therebetween; and 
 one or more drain ports coupled to one or more respective holes formed at the bottom end of the first and second side panels to drain the liquid.